The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Kenneth E. Bowton (ASN: 36482821), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 43d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Bulae, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 20 March 1945. When a force of the enemy launched a frantic counterattack against that hill in an attempt to overrun our positions by using machine guns, knee mortars, small arms fire, and grenades, some of them succeeded in crawling near the edge of our perimeter to a place where they were within hand grenade distance of the foxhole occupied by Corporal Bowton and his comrades. Corporal Bowton and his men determinedly and effectively used their supply of hand grenades against the enemy until the supply became exhausted. The need for more grenades was desperate. Corporal Bowton volunteered to procure an additional supply, and without regard for his own safety, crawled and ran under crossfire to a hole approximately 25 yards away. After obtaining a large number of grenades he fearlessly hurried to his former position where he and his men continued to beat off the Japanese. Corporal Bowton’s gallant and selfless action contributed in large measure to the successful repulse of the enemy attack and accounted for many enemy dead. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Corporal Bowton, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.